Machine for forming oil-cakes.



A. W. FRENCH.

MACHINE FOR FORMING'OIL CAKES.

APPLICATION man on. I. I915.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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A. W. FRENCH.

MACH1NE FOR FORMING OIL CAKES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 1-915.

Patented ()Ct. 31, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. W. FRENCH.

MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL CAKES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- I. I915.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

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A. w. FRENCH. MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL CAKES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 1915.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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ALFRED W. FRENCH,

OF PIQUA, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR FORMING OIL-CAKES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 31, 1916.

Application filed October 1, 1915. Serial No. 53,620.-

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED W. FnnNcI-r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piqua, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Forming Oil- Cakes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for forming or molding oil bearing meal into the cakes which are placed in the presses for expressing the oil from the meal, and more particularly to improvements in oil cake forming machines of the type disclosed in Letters Patent 1,059,986, granted to me April 29, 1913. In the machine disclosed in said patent, the meal is pressed into the form of a cake in a mold or forming box to which the meal is delivered by a charging box that is reciprocated from a position in which it receives a charge of meal from the meal cooker to a position over the forming box to discharge the meal into the latter. This charging box is reciprocated by hydraulic operating means controlled by a hand actuated valve. The forming box is provided at the upper end of a ram, between which and a head-block above the ram, the cake is pressed. This head-block is hinged to swing upwardly from its operative position over the ram to permit the filling of the forming box, and the parts forming the end walls of the forming box are movable to permit the press cloth to be laid fiat on the bottom of the forming box between the side walls thereof before the meal is delivered into the forming box and to allow the ends of the cloth to be folded over the cake.

The objects of this invention are to improve cake forming machines of this type in the respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims, and especially to provide a desirable arrangement of the movable end walls of the forming box and the operating mechanism therefor, and to provide a bumper or cushioning device for the swinging head-block which will prevent shock or jar when the head-block is swung to its raised position, and will prevent the head block from vibrating, so as to interfere with the operation of the charging box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cake forming ma chine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. 3 is a frag mentary transverse sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of the cake press, showing the cushioning device for the head-block, which is shown in its raised position. Fig. 4: is a fragmentary sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing the charge box and its operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the machine on an enlarged scale in line 55, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing the position of the parts when the charging box is over the forming box. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation on an en larged scale of the controlling means for the charging box operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof in line 8*8, Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a detail sectional elevation of the lost motion connection for the swinging end Wall of the forming box. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation enlarged, of the cake forming press showing by full and broken lines the lowered and raised positions of the swinging end wall of the forming box. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view thereof. Fig. 12 is an enlarged section of the cushioning device for the head-block. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary rear elevation partly in section on an enlarged scale of the cake forming press.

A represents the upright cylinder, B the ram and C the head-block of the cake forming press. The ram is movable vertically in the cylinder for pressing the cake between the same and the head-block, and is provided with a horizontally extended upper end or platen b, which forms the bottom of the cake forming box and preferably has raised flanges Z) along the opposite long sides thereof which form the side walls of the forming box. The end walls of the forming box are formed by parts I) and E, which are movable to and away from positions at the ends of the platen in which they form the end walls of the forming box. In the machine shown in said patent, the end walls of the forming box are hinged to swing upwardly from their horizontal operative position at the ends of the forming box and are lifted by hand. In the present construction the end wall D at the outer end of the forming box is hinged to swing vertically to and from its operative position while the other end wall E is arranged to move horizontally in the direction of move ment of the charging box to and from its operative position at the inner end of the to the front side of forming box, and the end walls are operated auton'iatically to place them in operative position after the press cloth has been laid on the bottom of the box between the side walls thereof and before the charge of meal is de livered to the box, and to move'them away from operative position when the charging box is retracted to permit the ends of the press cloth to be folded over the meal in the forming box before the head-block is lowered and the cake compressed. The end walls are thus automatically operated in the manner hereinafter described.

The end wall D preferably consists of a metal plate bent into channel shape which is suitably hinged at one end at (Z to the rear side of the platen Z), and is provided between its depending flanges with a footpiece or rest cl adapted to rest on the press cloth when the end wall is in its horizontal operative position.

The head-block'O is hinged at its rear side to a bracket 6 rising from the rear side of the press base or. is otherwise suitably hinged to swing upwardly from a horizontal position over the platen, shown in Fig. 2.t0 the raised position indicated in Fig. 3. 6 represents springs, such as heretofore used, connected to hinge arms 6 projecting rearwardly from the head-block and to the base of the press, or other suitable means, for counterbalancing the weight of the headblock and assisting in raising the same from its horizontal position. The head-block is held rigidly in the horizontal operative position by a catch 6 or holding device of any suitable sort. The catch 6 shown is hinged the head-block and engages a keeper o rising from the press cyllinder, and is adapted to be operated by a rod 0 which is connected to the head-block and also constitutes a handle for raising the head-block.

It has been found that the heavy headblock counterbalanced by the springsas-described, causes an objectionable shock or jar when it is thrown up to its raised position, and rebounds or oscillates so that it is apt to be struck by the charging box when the latter is advanced to fill the forming box. The following means are provided to overcome these objections, see particularly Figs. 3 and 12:F represents a bumper or cushioning device arranged to be-engaged by the head-block when .it is swung upwardly. This cushioning device preferably comprises a plunger f arranged'to move in a cylinder f which is stationarily secured to the bracket 6 at therear ofthe'press cylinder in position for the plunger, which extends out of the open upper end of the cylinder to be engaged and depressed by the rear edge of the head-block when the latter is swung to its upper position. As shown, the bumper cylinder-is secured by a-threade'd shank f on the cylinder and a nut f in f on the bracket (2 at the rear of the press cylinder. The bumper cylinder is provided with a jacket or liquid chamber f surrounding the cylinder and communicating there with below the plunger by small holes 7 and f f is a filling connection or pipe rising from the acket through which the liquid (preferably oil) is supplied to the jacket. f is a. spring in the cylinder f beneath the plunger for raising the plunger to its initial position after it has been depressed. The space in the cylinder beneath the plunger is filled with oil from the jacket f air being expelled from the cylinder through the hole f in the wall thereof by depressing the plunger a few times. lVhen the head-block is swung upwardly and strikes the plunger f the plunger is depressed and forces the oil out of the cylinder through the small holes in the walls thereof into the jacket f. The holes are of such a size that the discharge of oil is retarded and the movement of the plunger and head-block is cushioned. The spring f returns the plunger but the plunger can only return as fast as the oil can flow back into the cylinder throughthe small openings f f", and the plunger cannot rise fast enough to cause a rebound of the headblock. The head-block when thrown back therefore, is cushioned and does not produce any shock or jar on the machine, and it is prevented from recoiling or oscillating. represents a recess in the upper portion of the cylinder f surrounding the plunger, and connecting with the jacket f by holes f so that any oil which is driven out between the walls of the cylinder and the plunger is liberated into the recess and runs back into the jacket. reciprocating charging box. The charging box normally occupies a position shown in Fig. 1, in which it receives a charge of meal from the meal cooker and reciprocates from this position outwardly'over the cake forming box to deliver the charge of meal thereto, and is returned to'the receiving position. 9 is the usual horizontal apron which projects from the upper end of the charge box and closes the discharge opening of the meal. cooker when the chargingbox is moved outwardly to fill the forming box. The apron slides in a suitable horizontal guide ii on the supporting frame H of the charging device and serves to properly guide the charging box in its movements.

The charging box is preferably reciprocated by hydraulic mechanism which is constructed and operates substantially as disclosed in the aforementioned patent and which may be briefly described as follows I represents-a rod secured at one end to the charging box and provided at the other end with a piston that works in a cylinder K, which is suitably mounted onthe supporta perforated lug G represents the horizontally 1 ing frame H. h, Fig. 5, represents a supply pipe for liquid under pressure, 7s pipes leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder and 71: a discharge or return pipe for the liquid. 76* is a valve casing connecting these several pipes and 76 is a valve of any suitable sort which is movable in the casing for controlling the passage of the liquid to and from the cylinder K. In the position shown in Fig. 5, the valve connects the pipe 71: from the rear end of the cylinder with the discharge pipe 70 and by moving the valve to the right in Fig. 5 the pipe is is cut oil from the discharge pipe and is placed in connection with the supply pipe. The supply pipe 70 connects with the pipe 70 leading to the front end of the cylinder in both positions of the valve. As the front face of the piston is of smaller area than the rear face thereof, owing to its connection with the piston rod, the liquid exerts difiierential pressures on the opposite faces of the piston. Then the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the pressure of the liquid on the front face of the piston will move the piston rearwardly and carry the chargingbox to the receiving position, the liquid discharging from the cylinder in rear of the piston through the pipe 70 and return pipe hen the valve is moved to the right to its other position the liquid will enter the cylinder in the rear of the piston through the pipe is and overcoming the opposing pressure on the smaller front face of the piston, will move the piston and charging box forwardly to deliver the charge of meal in the charging box to the forming box. L, Figs; 1 and 5, represents a hand lever, or operating device for moving the valve is. This lever, as shown, is secured to a rock shaft Z which is journaled crosswise in the frame H and has an arm connected to a stem at one end of the valve so that when the handle of the lever is depressed the valve will be moved to advance the charging box. Z is a latch bar connecting a stem at the opposite end of the valve 70 to a spring Z which is attached to a suitable stationary part of the machine and acts to return the valve to and hold it in the normal position shown in Fig. 5. Z*, Figs. 7 and 8, is a pivoted latch which is held by a spring Z against the edge of the latch bar Z and is adapted to engage a shoulder Z on said bar for holding the valve in the position to which it is moved by the hand lever to advance the charging box. The opposite end of the latch Z is arranged to be engaged by a releasing cam or device Z Fig. 8, on the apron of the charging box or other suitable part which moves with the charging box. Whenthe valve has been moved by means of the lever L to advance the charging box, the latch Z engages the shoulder on the latch bar and holds the valve until the charging box reaches the limit of its outward move ment at which time the releasing device Z actuates the latch to release the valve, and the spring Z then returns the valve to its normal position in which it permits the escape of the liquid from the rear end of the cylinder whereupon the pressure on the front face of the piston will retract the piston and the charging box.

The swinging end wall D of the forming box is connected to the valve actuating lever L so as to be lowered to its operative position at the end of the forming box when the lever L is moved to cause the advance of the charging box, preferably by the following mechanism: The lever rock shaft Z is provided at the end thereof opposite to that to which the lever is connected with .a rock arm m which is connected to a rod M arranged to move in a suitable guide m on the frame H and connected to a bell crank lever m which is suitably fulcrumed on the cylinder of the forming press and is connected by a rod or link m to an arm m projecting rearwardly from the hinged end of the end wall D of the forming box. When the lever L is operated to cause the advance of the charging box it pulls the rod M rearwardly and through the described connections lowers the end wall, D to its operative position, shown in Figs. 10 and 11. A. spring N surrounding the rod M between a nut or collar n thereon, and the bracket 6 or other suitable abutment acts when the valve latch Z is released, to return the said rod M and through the described connections to swing the end wall D upwardly to its raised position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 10.

If the connections between the valve actuating lever L and the swinging end wall D were such as to permit no independent or lost motion of the end wall relative to the lever, the adjustment of the parts would have to be very exact in order to insure the proper operation of the machine. If the end wall could not swing down low enough the charging box would hit it, injuring the carriage or end wall, and if the adjustment was such as to permit the end wall to move downwardly too far, the end wall would be arrested by striking the press cloth on the bottom of the forming box and would prevent the valve operating lever from being moved far enough to latch it, as before explained. In order to avoid these difficulties and insure the proper operation of the end wall D and valve 4 a lost motion connection is provided between the valve actuating lever L and the end wall D adapted to permit a slight movement of the end wall independently of the valve actuating lever. For this purpose the pivotal connection between the link m and the arm m of the end wall D is preferably arranged to ariford a slight lost motion. As shown in Fig. 9, the rod m is connected to the arm m by a pivot pin adapted to move laterally in an elongated slot 0 in a hinge lug 0 secured to the arm m of the end wall. By reason of this loose connection, when the end wall is swung downwardly by the operation of the valve actuatinglever L, the end wall D can drop onto the press cloth on the bottom of the forming box before the valve actuating lever has been moved far enough to latch the valve. In this way the movement'of the end wall D completely to its horizontal operative position is insured before the valve is latched and the end wall cannot interfere with the complete movement of the valve actuating lever and valve to the latching position.

The sliding end wall E for the forming block is preferably formed by the downturned end of a horizontal plate P which is arranged to slide horizontally in suitable guides 79 on the frame H of the charging device. In the receiving position of the chargin box, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, this plate P lies beneath and closes the lower end of the charging box. The plate P is suitably connected to a horizontal rod p, Figs. 4 and 6 arranged to slide in a guide 79 on the frame H and a spring 72 surrounding this rod between the guide 29 and a collar 19 on the rod "tends to move said plate P outwardly or forwardly. The plate is held in its normal or retracted position by the engagement of an upwardly projecting part 29 at its inner end with the inner end of the charging box. WVhen the charging box is-advanced todeliver the charge to the forming box, the end wall plate P follows the box under the action of its projecting spring 29 until the end wall E reaches its operative position at the end of the forming box, shown in Fig. 6 in which position it is arrested by the engagement of a stop 29 at the inner end of the rod 7) with-the-guide 72 When the charging box is retracted it moves independently of the end wall 'E until the inner end of the charging box engages the upwardly projecting part fat the inner end of the plate P, after which the plate and'end Wall will be moved with the charging box until the charging box reaches its receiving position beneath the meal cooker.

The operating mechanism for the charging box has been described to enable a proper understanding of the operation of themova-bleend walls D and E of the forming box, which are operated under the control of the valve actuating lever or operating device L and the charging box F respec tively. This invention is not, however, restrictedto a'charging box and its operating 'mechanism,constructed as shown and de scribadgand -"the charging :box can be com structed, mounted and operated in any other suitable ay, enabling the described operation of the movable end walls D and E.

In the operation of the machine, a press cloth is laid on the platen 6 between the side walls of the forming box with its ends hanging down over the ends of the platen, while the head-blocl C and the end wall D are in their raised positions and the end wall E is retracted. The valve actuating lever L is then moved to cause the charging box to advance and distribute a charge of meal in the forming box, and to lower the hinged end wall D to its operative position in the manner explained. The other end wall E is caused by its spring to advance to its operative position with the charging box. The lever L is held by the latch in the position to which it is moved until the charging box reaches the end of its advance movement and releases the lever in the manner explained, whereupon the end wall D is swung upwardly by the spring N. The end wall E is retracted by the return movement of the charging box. The ends ofthe press cloth are then folded over the meal in the forming box, the head-block C lowered and latched and the usual valve actuated to cause the ram B to rise and compress the cake. hen the head-block is again raised and the cake removed, the parts will be in position for forming another cake.

I claim as my invention 1. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a forming box in which the cake is formed, having a wall which is movable to and from operative position, a charging box, means for moving said charging box to carry a charge of material to the forming box, including an operating device, and means controlled by said operating device for moving said movable wall of the forming box 'to its operative position when said operating device is actuated to advance the charging box.

2. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a forming box in which the cake is formed, having a wall which is movable to and from operative position, a charging box, means for moving the charging box to carry a charge of material to the forming box including an operating device, and connections between said operating device and said movable wall of the forming box by which said wall is moved to its operative position when said operating device is actuated to advance the charging box and is moved away from its operative position when said operating device is moved to cause the return of the charging box.

8. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a forming box in which the cake is formed, having aw'all which is movable to and frorn operative position; a charging box, means for moving said charging box to carry a charge of material to the forming box, including an operating device, latch mechanism which locks said operating device in the position to which it is moved for advancing the charging box, and mechanism controlled by said operating device by which the movable wall is moved to its operative position when said operating device is actuated to advance the charging box and is moved away from its operative position when said operating device is released.

4. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a forming box in which the cake is formed, having a wall which is movable to and from operative position, a charging box, means for moving said charging box to carry a charge of material to the forming box, including an operating device, latch mechanism which looks said operating device in the position to which it is moved for advancing the charging box and releases said operating device when the charging box reaches the limit of its advance movement,

and connections from said operating device to said movable wall by which the movable wall is moved to and from its operative position by the movement of said operating device in opposite directions.

In a cake forming machine, the combination of a forming box in which the cake is formed, having a wall which is movable to and from operative position, a charging box which carries charges of material to the forming box, an operating device for controlling the operation of said charging box, and'mechanism by which the movement of said wall is controlled by the movement of said operating device, said mechanism including a lost motion connection which permits a limited movement of the movable wall independently of said operating device.

6. In a cake forming machine, the com bination of a forming box, in which the cake is formed, having a wall which is movable to and from operative position, a charging box for carrying charges of material to said forming box, an operating device for controlling the operation of said charging box, a latch which holds said operating device in the position to which it is moved to advance the charging box, and which is released to permit the return of the charging box, and operative connections between said operating devices and said movable Wall, whereby the movement of said movable wall is controlled by the movement of said operating device, said connections including a lost motion connection which permits a slight movement of said Wall independently of said operating device.

7. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a forming box in which the cake is formed, having walls which are movable to and from operative positions at the opposite ends of the box, a charging box which carries charges of material to the forming box, operating means for said charging, connections between said operating means and one of said end walls for moving the end wall to and from its operative position, and means for moving said other end wall to and from its operative position controlled by the movement of said charging box.

8. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a forming box in which the cake is formed, having a hinged wall at one end and a sliding wall at the opposite end, a charging box which carries charges of material to said forming box, operating means for said charging box, connections by which said hinged end wall is moved to and from its operative position under the control of said operating means, means for causing said sliding wall to move to its operative position when the charging box is advanced to the forming box, and means by which said sliding end wall is retracted by the return movement of said charging box.

9. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a ram and a head-block between which the cake is compressed, said headblock being hinged to swing away from its operative relation to said ram, counterbalancing springs for said head-block, and a cushioning device which is engaged by said head block when it is swung out of its operative position, and comprises a cylinder containing liquid and a liquid displacing plunger movable therein for cushioning the movement of said head-block.

10. In a cake forming machine, the combination of a ram and a head-block between which the cake is compressed, said headblock being mounted to move out of operative relation to said ram, and a cushioning device for arresting the movement of said head-block, comprising a cylinder and plunger, one of which is moved relative to the other by the head-block, said cylinder containing liquid and having a restricted opening for the escape of liquid from the cylinder for retarding the relative movement of the plunger and the cylinder, and a spring for restoring the movable part to the initial position.

C. B. TIr'roN, R. M. DONOVAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

